Car-fender



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

A. B. WATSON.

GAR FENDER.

No. 545,142. Patented Aug. 27,1895.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

.5 5 A. B. WATSON. OAR FENDER. No. 545,142. Patented Aug. 27,1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

ALFRED B. WATSON, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

CAR-FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,142, dated August27, 1895.

Application filed May 24, 1895. 'derial No. 550,584. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED B. WATSON, of the city of Paterson, in thecounty of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Car-Fenders, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improvement in car-fenders, andparticularly to those used on trolley-cars or cars impelled by the useof electricity.

The object of my invention is to provide a fender that may be easilyattached to or detached from any car, or removed from one end of the carto the other, or that may be opened or shut by lowering or raising thesame, and that will be adapted to fold in closing, so as to take upbutverylittle room and notinterfere with the bumper, headlight of car,or the coupling of two cars. I

A further object of myinvention is to produce a fender possessing allthe requisites above named, and also being simple in construction,durable, cheap, easily operated, and quickly repaired.

I accomplish these objects by my invention, which consists in thespecial features of construction and the combination or arrangement ofparts hereinafter described and claimed, and shown in the accompanyingdrawings,which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure lis a side elevation of my improved fender attached to the forward end ofa car. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved fend er enlarged. Fig.3 is a side elevation of my improved fender, showing the same closed andhooked up so as not to interfere with the bumper, coupler, or headlight;and Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing fender when folded up or closed,as in Fig. 3, parts being broken away or omitted.

In the drawings, A represents a car; B, the hanger, which is providedwith hinge-pins B and B.

I do not confine myself to the construction of ahanger as shown in thedrawings, as any hanger provided with the hinge-pins B B will answer thepurpose without departing from the spirit of mytinv'ention.

My improved fender consists of bars of suitable material, but preferablyof wrought or malleable iron, all joined or connected, as shown in thedrawings, the front bar being provided with a cushion consisting ofspiral coverings of wire or other suitable material with nettingsstretched across the front of the frame. The netting may consist of anysuitable material, but preferably of galvanizediron netting.

The framework of my fender consists of the two upright back bars, whichare suitably bent or'cu rved at their extremities, if desired, asindicated in the drawings by C, the two side bars D, the front bar E,cross-bars F F F F? F F F and the pivotal braces G. The bar F isprovided with a tang or tongue at each end, which passes throughopenings in the lower ends of the back uprights O and is secured thereinby nuts, so as to permit the bar F to turn as a hinge. The side bars Dare secured to the cross-bar F near the lower ends of the back uprights(J, as shown in the drawings, and are adapted to be raised up andfastened by hook CL and eye I), as shown in Fig. 8. The netting is puton in sections, as shown in Figs.2 and 4,the cross-bars F F F F F beinground bars aroundwhich the netting is wrapped, twisted, or passed topermit the various sections of the front of the fender to be folded, as,shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The front top side bars H H H H are secured onthe ends of the bars F F F F F by means of nuts, so as to permit thefolding above mentioned. The fender may be provided with as many ofthese folding sections as are necessary.

I prefer to make my fender of four folding sections of such a lengththat when the fender is folded there is a clear opening beneath thefolded netting for the bumper and coupler, as is apparent in Figs. 3 and4.

To prevent the folding sections from sagging or folding downward, Iprovide the two side braces G, one end of which is pivotally secured tothe back upright O and the other end to the central cross-bar F When thefender is open and extended, as shown in Fig. 2, the operation ofclosing is as follows: The side bars D are lifted up to perpendicularposition shown in Fig. 3, the braces G assume an almost perpendicularposition, carrying the central cross-bar to its top end,

. i V a v V m and assume the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The cross-bar F is a brace for strengthenin g purposes, serving tosecure the bar or toepieces E and helping to form a platform in front ofthe netting. 7

To minimize the injury apt to be done by striking a person, I cover thefront bar or too piece E with a cushion consisting of a spiralcoveringgK, of wire or other suitable material.

As it is frequently necessary to change the position of the fender byraising or lowering it to suit the'height of the car or for otherpurposes, I have provided the sliding supports L, which surround theback uprightbars C and grip the bars by means of set-screws L, saidsliding supports being provided with a tongue or extension with suitableholes adapted to, fit snugly around the hinge-pins B.

It frequently occurs,in the case of cars going through tunnels orpassingeach other on a curve on adjoining tracks, that the extended tenderscollide, and my fender is so easily raised and lowered thatit will notbe necessary to remove the fenders inorder to avoid col? lision in goingaround a curve or the striking of columns of masonry while in transit,as the mortorman may easily, with a hook which he carries, lift up thefender temporarily until the point of dangeris passed, when it can be aseasily lowered again.

Another advantage which I claim for my fender, is that when it islowered there is no danger of a person being picked up and struck by thebumper or coupler, as both are covered by netting.

lVith this description of my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A fender consisting of back uprights with front and side bars hingedto the lower ends of said uprights, in combination with sections ofnetting connecting to the upper ends of said uprights and the frontportion of said side bars, and braces pivotaliy connectingsaid uprightsto the central portion of the net work, all constructed substantially asshown and described and for the purposes specified. I

2. In combination with a railway car, a fender consisting of backuprights, a front bar and side bars hinged to the lower ends of saiduprights, a cushion surrounding said front bar consisting ofaspiralcovering of any suitable material, a net work frame extendingfrom the top ends of said uprights to the front portion or outer ends ofthe side bars consisting of sections adapted to fold when the side barsare raised and netting secured to each of said folding sections, andbraces pivotally connecting the central folding point of the net workframe and the uprights, substantially as shown and described.

3. A railway car, hangers, provided with upright pins, secured to saidcar in combination with a fender consisting of back uprights,

sliding supports through which said back uprights pass, set screws tosecure saidoack up- 7 rights where desired in said supports, saidsupports provided with a lug having a hole adapted'to fit'around theupright pins on said hangers, a front bar and side bars secured to across bar the ends of said cross bar passing through the lower ends ofsaid back u prights and secured so as to turn therein, a

cushion surrounding said front bar and consisting of a spiral coveringof any suitable material, a folding net work frame connecting the upperend of said back uprights and the front or outer portions of said sidebars, net work secured on said foldingsec'tions and braces connectingsaidback bars and the sides of the folding net work frame midway betweenthe ends thereof", all constructed substantially as shown and described.

ALFRED B. WATSON. lVitnesses:

WM. M. DREW, LoUIs MICHEL.

